But for Nix, that’s a loss of 23 pounds, he said, since he began his pre-draft training in early January. And when he takes the field Monday at Lucas Oil Stadium for his on-field testing, Nix hopes to show NFL teams his weight loss has given him a boost.

“Yeah, man. My stomach doesn’t stick out as much,” Nix said Sunday. “That’s kind of nice. I enjoy that part of it. My thighs got a little smaller. I just feel sexier, man.”

Nix heads toward May’s draft as one of this year’s top defensive tackle prospects, a likely first-round talent. But he is still trying to answer important questions about his ideal playing weight and the knee issues that cost him five games last season. Nix battled tendinitis in his left knee before having season-ending surgery to repair a torn meniscus.

Nix said his knee “is fantastic” right now but wouldn’t assert that his weight loss would give him greater stability in the knee going forward.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I see a lot of big people walk around with nice knees, so. I mean, I hope it helps my knee. And I plan on staying low so hopefully it stays good like it is now.”

Nix is projected to fit best as more of a nose tackle in a 3-4 system in the NFL, which means he likely wouldn’t be a great match for the Bears. But the gregarious Notre Dame standout insisted he’s flexible enough to find his way in a 4-3, not strictly just a “hold the point guy.”

“I mean I think I can wiggle a little bit,” Nix said. “I have dance moves. So that should prove a lot.”

Nix said he figures to keep his weight around 330 pounds but is open to losing more if a team wants him to. In his current weight loss program, he’s had to steer away from his guilty pleasures at Five Guys.

“I enjoy my share of Five Guys and Cajun fries,” Nix said. “But I’m starting to like salads now. As long as it takes good. No dressing. I eat it like chips. Just pick it up and go.”

That will be the directive Monday for Nix’s combine testing.

Meanwhile, NFL.com reported that Notre Dame's Stephon Tuitt, a top pass-rushing prospect, will not work out Monday because of a small fracture in his left foot.

Chasing a dream: Colorado State running back Kapri Bibbs, who grew up in Harvey and was a standout at Plainfield North, was a surprise early entrant into his year's NFL draft, opting to leave school after his redshirt sophomore season. With 20 early entrants at his position, Bibbs faced a defining pre-draft moment Sunday during his on-field testing at the combine. Hoping to turn heads with his 40-yard dash performance, Bibbs settled for a time of 4.60 seconds and will need to better that time at his pro day next month.

Bibbs certainly doesn't lack confidence, joking this weekend about the appeal of potentially playing for the Bears, his hometown team.

"Being home would definitely be awesome," Bibbs said. "Almost like a LeBron (James) and Cleveland thing, it'd be like a Kapri Bibbs-Chicago thing."

Extra points: Northern Illinois' Jordan Lynch is determined to make it in the NFL as a quarterback and worked out with that group Sunday. But Lynch also opted to partake in drills with the running backs, leaving all options open.

Chasing a dream: Colorado State running back Kapri Bibbs, who grew up in Harvey and was a standout at Plainfield North, was a surprise early entrant into his year's NFL draft, opting to leave school after his redshirt sophomore season. With 20 early entrants at his position, Bibbs faced a defining pre-draft moment Sunday during his on-field testing at the combine. Hoping to turn heads with his 40-yard dash performance, Bibbs settled for a time of 4.60 seconds and will need to better that time at his pro day next month.

Bibbs certainly doesn't lack confidence, joking this weekend about the appeal of potentially playing for the Bears, his hometown team.

"Being home would definitely be awesome," Bibbs said. "Almost like a LeBron (James) and Cleveland thing, it'd be like a Kapri Bibbs-Chicago thing."

Extra points: Sunday's on-field testing opened the door for the offensive speedsters to excel. Kent State running back Dri Archer's 40-yard dash time of 4.26 seconds was the fastest since 2008, when current Titans running back Chris Johnson ran a 4.24. Oregon State receiver Brandin Cooks (4.33) and Pittsburg State receiver John Brown (4.34) were the only others to run faster than 4.4. ... Northern Illinois' Jordan Lynch is determined to make it in the NFL as a quarterback and worked out with that group Sunday. But Lynch also opted to partake in drills with the running backs, leaving all options open.